Sun, 06 Mar 2011 - India vs Ireland, World Cup 2011, 22th match Group B - Bulletin

Yuvraj strike leaves Ireland in trouble

Ireland were 134 runs for the loss of four wickets at the end of thirty overs with William Porterfield playing a captain’s innings batting on 85-ball 62. Hero of Irish win against England Kevin O’brien was also at the crease.

Earlier Indian came back into the game with Dhoni running out Nail O’brein after Porterfield and Nail O’brein had put on 113 runs for the third wicket.

Both have resurrected Irish innings after losing two wickets for nine runs with Zaheer taking both wickets. Yuvraj Singh was another wicket taker.

Porterfield, O’brein involve in Irish recovery

Ireland were 82 for the loss of two wickets at the end of twenty overs with their skipper William Porterfield batting on 37 and giving him company was Nail O’brein not out on 32.

The pair had put on undefeated 3rd wicket partnership of 73 runs after Zaheer had rocked Irish side early by taking two wickets for nine runs.

It could have been worse for Ireland had Yusuf Pathan hold on to a catch off Porterfield in the second slip.

Zaheer double strike rocks Ireland early

Zaheer responded to captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s decision to bowl first on Bangalore pitch y removing two Irish batsmen in his first two overs.

Ireland were 27 for the loss of two wickets at the end of ten overs with their captain William Porterfield and Nail O’brien at the crease.

Zaheer Khan’s first scalp was young Ireland opener Paul Stirling who was clean bowled by an in-dipper from the bowler. Stirling was soon followed by Ed Joyce who inside edged Zaheer’s delivery to wicket keeper Dhoni.

It could have been worse for Ireland had Yusuf Pathan hold on to a catch off Porterfield in the second slip.

Unchanged India decide to field first

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won the toss and asked Ireland to bat first on a Bangalore pitch that Dhoni reckons will assist spinners in the day than in evening. Dhoni said his team has been practicing too much and were ready for this game.

William Porterfield, Ireland captain hopes that his side would post a good score and put India under pressure during the chase.

India is unchanged for this game while Ireland have made a one change to their playing eleven that played against England with Andrew White coming in for Gary Wilson.

Sunil Gavaskar, in his pitch report, feels track is lot drier than what it was during India-England match and will offer assistance to the spinners in the later stages of the game.

Ireland playing XI: William Porterfield (c), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien (wk), Andrew White, Kevin O'Brien, Alex Cusack, John Mooney, Trent Johnston, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin,

India playing XI: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (c)(wk), Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Piyush Chawla, Munaf Patel,

Read the complete story on part 2